Wichita eagle., 1887-12-28
A TARIFF TO PROTECT LABOR.
To the Editor of the Daily Eagle

The question of the improper prOtec-
! ton of labor by our present tariff laws
has been well known grievance to all
the couscien tious students Of the much
/ ignored labor subject. That protection
has heretofore inadequately protected
| American labor engaged in the develop
ment of the natural resources OF this
continent has been made apparent by
/ the organized efforts of that labor IN re-
cent years. The grievance was felt but
not located by the labor elements until
the capitalists, in self-defense, began the
! importation of foreign contract labor to
manufacture articles which We're pro-
/ tected by our tariff. 1t was natural that
an outcry should be raised by the Amer
! lean iaborer upon discovering
this discrimination against himself.
/ 1t is the most natural and Just objection
/ against the idea of protection. l. e., that
/ it protects capital but not labor. The
| skilled artisans of the eastern and north
ern states. however. while admitting this
defect in our tariff largely refuse to de-
! sert a system whose benefits have been
! felt by them in the past. Therefore. they
/ have urged the establishment of labor
/ bureaus of statistics, and legislation
against contract labor as defensive meas
ureS. 1t is this defect of the tariff that
largely enables the demagogues OF the
Democracy as we'll as many of Its con-
scientious thinkers to assail the idea of
protection with some force. In the man
ufacturing states this assault of the De
mocracy is doing harm ami should be
materially counteracted. In the south
where labor has never been educated and
respected and never will be whilst the
Democratic party with its present leaders
and tendencies prevail. it is the mission
of the Republican and ProtectiOnist party
to educate that labor to a more lntelll-
gent appreciation OF its power, dignity
and rights in this republic.
Having been member OF several
organizations and movements, as
well as an officer of the customs
| have been witness to many mistakes
made by such organizations in their mis-
directed zeal. as well as the great dis
examinations of many of the laws against
the rights of labor Such experience
leads me to believe that the rights of
labor are to be obtained by its strict
allegiance TO one or the other of the two
great parties, and not through any midi
vidual effort III an agrarlan or social
direction A slight investigation of the
history of parties will indisputably point
to the Republican party as the refuge of
the labor elements upon past grounds;
whilst the attitude Of the Democrats to-
wards the idea of the protection and COM
plete development of all American indus
t,-ia. nf In
mixed aristocratic-pauper system of
Europe should raise alarm in the minds
of every working man i'll the United
States.
| believe that whenever an article is
protected by a duty levied upon its inn
portation that a bureau Of labor statistics
should take graded schedule of the cost
of American labor engaged in the pro-
duction of that article, from the produc-
ton of the raw material through all the
various steps to its finish: that such
bureau should find the mean
American standard prices of labor,
especially where differences occur,
in different states and territories engaged
in the production of all articles. and keep
the secretary of the treasury Informed of
their fluctuations. That with due regard
I
laid. And whenever capital engaged in
manufacturing such protected articles
generally advanced the price OF the Ia
Dor it employed the duty should be
maintained or raised in that ratio upon
that article: that when capital reduced
the price of its employed labor the duty
should he reduced accordingly.
know that this idea is entirely new
L.. 4 Il Il
delusion by capitalists, and too com
pex. probably, by that class of labor re-
formers who out of sheer veXatlOn at not
finding a solution to the question of ade-
qllate protection for labor as well as cap
ital. have gone over to free trade. But
| am sancInne that it is feasible. Just and
necessary. We Will take for a brief il
lustratiOn tie article of sugar. The
proper duty on raw sugar ought to be
five cents per pound to fully develop that
industry for both a home supply and eX
portaton profits. With this duty laid,
say the labor OF raising American raw
sugar averaging the cost Of the gulf
coast labor with that Of the interior sOr-
ghum and beet producing states engaged
i'll its production, cost two dollars
per hundred pounds. at the average cost
of one dollar per diem for each adult
laborer. Now say your great capitalized
sugar trllst-We have and are now en-
gagged in putting up the price OF sugar
came on and advanced the prlce of
sugar two cents per pound. linen let the
ld0Oring man ask an advance OF wages
in the same ratio. and If not granted let
the government telegraph to all collec-
tors reduction OF two cents per pound
on raw sugar for a stated time. say not
less than one year. " iIat would be the
result: Capital, in advancing the price
of the product OF labor must AZ once
advance the price OF labor to meet the
certain reduction Of the duty ON thai
product. Because labor ought to have
the right to open. III part as matter OF
self-preservatlOn. our ports to foreign
competition against the domestic aggres-
sions of capital when the latter Is en-
gagged in Specializing in port upon the
productions of labor without carrying
the remuneration of labor into that spec
ulation. Especially since the profits
arising from the production Of a dutiabe
article is largely the result of tax laid
upon the whole people. capitalists and
laborers, and Just government must
not discriminate against any class OF It's
citizens.
believe that plank in the national
Republican platform declaring for a tar
iii which can be so adjusted as TO afford
protection alike to both capital and labor
according to the fluctuations of the
profits of each would he a proper and
successful concession to make 30 the
labor element of the country.
W +. HUTCHINSON.